Merry-go-round.



Patented Dec. l9, I899. J. W. HILE.

M ERBY-GWROUND.

(Application filed Sept. 30, 1 899.)

ilnTTnn dTATns PATENT @Trrcn.

JOHN T. HILE, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

.MERRY-GO-RQUND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,386, dated December 19, 1899.

' Application filed September 30,1899. Serial No. 732,215. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern..-

Be it known that 1, JOHN W. HILE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas Cit-y, in the county of \Vyandotte and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Merry- Go-Bound, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to merrygo-rounds or carousels, and has for its object to provide certain new and useful improvements in the mounting of the radial arms upon the upright mast, so as to facilitate the assembling of the parts and to provide for a steady and easy movement of the device.

It is further designed to provide an improved drive mechanism for convenient operation from one of the carriages, so as to dispense with steam and other like motive powers, and thereby adapt the device for domestic use.

To these ends the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will he hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a merry-go-round or carousel constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional elevation showing the manner of mounting the radial arms upon the upright supporting-mast. Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the connection between the braces for the arms and the upper end of the mast. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the drive mechanism. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective View of the box which receives the inner ends of the radial arms.

Corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings are designated by like characters of reference.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates crossed beams which are designed to rest flat upon the ground or the floor of a building to form a base for the de vice. Located at the point of intersection of the crossed beams is a step-bracket 2, in which is seated an upright mast 3, and the latter is braced by means of a series of inclined braces 4, which rest upon the respective cross-beams.

Extending radially from the upper end of the mast 3 is a plurality of radial arms 5, which have their inner ends seated in a box 6, and thereby held in fixed relation with one another. This box is best shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings and comprises fiat radial extensions or members 7, which are provided at opposite edges with longitudinal flanges 8, between which the inner ends of the arms 5 are seated and held therein by means of transverse bolts 9, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Provided centrally through the bottom of the box is a vertical opening 10 for the loose reception of a fixed vertical pin 11, projecting upwardly from the upper end of the mast 3.

Located above the radial arms and seated upon the upper end of the pin 11 is a topmast 12, which is provided in its lower end with a longitudinal socket 13 for the recepiion of the upper end of the pin 11.

The outer ends of the radial arms 5 are connected to the upper end of the topmast 12 by means of up wardly-inclined brace-rods 14, the lower ends of which are hooked into eyebolts 15, provided upon the radial arms. The upper ends of these brace-rods are connected to a swiveled plate 16, which fits loosely upon a fixed pivot-pin 17, projecting upwardly and axially from the upper end of the topmast, and the plate is furthermore supported upon a suitable ball-bearing 18. Peripheral eyes or openings are provided in the plate 16, and the upper ends of the brace-rods 14 are engaged with the eyes or openings, whereby the outer ends of the radial arms are firmly braced, and the braces and the swiveled plate are adaptedto turn with the radial arms.

Fitted upon the pin 11 in the upper end of the mast 3 is a sprocket-wheel 23, which is made fast to the pin 11 by means ofa setscrew24 and is spaced aboveand out of contact with the radial arms.

Pendent from the outer end of each radial arm is a suitable carriage 20, having opposite suspending side arms 21, which are engaged with eyebolts 22, passing through the arm.

As shown in Fig. 1, these carriages may be in the form of hammocks or single and double seated chairs, and any other form of carriage may be employed without affecting the result of the present invention.

It will be noted that the side arms 21 of the hammocks comprise upwardly-inclined and convergent members, each of which is provided with a plurality of openings 40 for adjustable engagement with hooks 4:1, pendent from the bolts 22, so that the hammock may be suspended in substantially horizontal position, as shown in the drawings, or may be inclined at any preferred angle by engaging the hooks 41 with the various corresponding openings in the side arms, as will be understood. Furthermore, the suspending-arms 21 are bolted or otherwise secured to the frame of the hammocks, so that they maybe detachably connected thereto.

The means for operating or driving the merry-go-round is shown in Fig. 4- and comprises a supporting-bracket designed for attachment to one of the radial arms and carrying intermeshing gears and a drive-shaft havingadrive-wheel, whereby the device may be driven. The supporting bracket comprises a rectangular box 26, which embraces one of the radial arms and is secured thereto by means of bolts 27 and 28, respectively, which extend at substantially right angles through the radial arm and the respective lower and upright sides of the box. The lower side 29 of the box projects laterally beyond one side of the arm, and pendent from the inner end of this projecting portion is a hanger-arm 30, the lower end of which is rebent and forms a substantially U-shaped extremity 31. Located above the lower extremity of the hanger is a lateral brace 32, which projects beneath the box 27. Sup ported by the outer end of the brace 32 and extending vertically through the projecting upper and lower sides of the box 26 is an upright shaft 33, having its lower end provided with a bevel-gear 34, meshing with a vertically-disposed bevel-gear 35, which latter is mounted between the opposite sides of the U -shaped extremity of the hanger and is adapted to be operated by means of a suitable crank 36. The upper end of the vertical shaft 33 projects above the upper side of the box 26 and is provided with a sprocket wheel 37, which is connected to the sprocketwheel 23 by means of a sprocket-chain 38.

In the operation of the device the crank 36 is operated to turn the sprocket-wl'leel 37, carried by one of the radial arms, and said sprocket-wheel will travel upon the track formed by the sprocket-chain 38, thereby advancing or turning the radial arms upon the pivot-pin 11 asa center. It will be understood that the sprocket-wheel 23 is fixed and that the sprocket-chain travels around with the radial arm upon which said chain is mounted, so as to permit of the sprocketwheel 37 traveling upon the inner side of the chain, as upon a fixed track. It will be noted that the drive mechanism is located adjacent to one of the carriages, so that the occupant thereof may conveniently operate the crank 36, and the hanger-arm 30 is offset to one side of the radial arm, so that the side arms of the carriages may not interfere with the convenient operation of the drive mechanism. Furthermore, as indicated in Fig. 1, it is designed to provide a double carriage diametrically opposite the drive mechanism, so as to compensate for the weight of the latter, and thereby properly balance the device.

To decrease the friction between the lower side of the box 6 and the upper end of the mast 3, the latter is provided with asuitable bearing 30 for the support of said box.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided an improved merry-go-round the parts of which may be readily assembled and the entire device conveniently set up, and have, furthermore, provided means for conveniently driving or op erating the device from one of the carriages thereof, thereby dispensing with a separate motive agent and adapting the merry-goround for domestic use.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a merry-goround, the combination with a supporting-mast, radial arms having carriages, and rotatably mounted upon the mast, and a fixed sprocket-wheel carried by the mast, of an operating mechanism therefor, comprising a substantially rectangular box embracing one of the radial arms, and having its upper and lower sides projecting at the same side of the arm, ahanger pendent from one end of the extension of the lower side of the box, the lower end of the hanger being rebent and forming a substantially U- shaped terminal, a brace projectinglaterally from the hanger, a vertically-disposed shaft carried by the brace and projecting upwardly through the extension of the box, gear-wheels mounted upon the respective upper and lower ends of the shaft, a verticallydisposed bevel gear-wheel mounted between the sides of the U-shaped terminal of the hanger and in mesh with the adjacent bevel-gear, a crank for operating the vertically-disposed gear, and a sprocket-chain between the upper sprocketwheel and the sprocket-wheel carried by the mast, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination with a merry-go-round, having rotatable arms provided with pendent hooks, of carriages or the like, having upwardly-convergent suspending-arms provided with a plurality of openings for adjustable engagement with the pendenthooks,substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. HILE.

Witnesses:

H. L. KNAPP, G. EACH.

IIO 

